Blessings was the second studio album by contemporary Christian musicianLaura Story. The album was released by INO Records on April 12, 2011, and produced by Nathan Nockels. The album has seen commercial charting successes, as well as receiving positive critical attention from music critics.
At CCM Magazine, Grace S. Aspinwall wrote that "Her voice is pure and flawless and each song is perfectly arranged", and noted that "Her songwriting has also strengthened, and she shows depth and maturity [...] most exemplified on the title track", which "Moments of pop work their way into this mostly-worship project."[1] Phil Thomson said that Laura Story "wrote or co-wrote the tracks with the kind of intense, vested interest which leaves you in no doubt about the provenance, also making you wonder how she knows you so well."[2] At Christianity Today, Kristin Garrett stated that "the tracks with less orchestration and more melodic piano lines more aptly illustrate Story's vocal and songwriting abilities."[3] Jen Rose of Jesus Freak Hideout wrote that the album was "a collection of praise anthems and stories of God's faithfulness, and a worship album with a songwriter's soul", and that Story's "work focuses on lyrics from the heart, songs that reflect on hope, injustice, redemption, and love."[4]
Blessings garnered generally positive reception by music critics to critique the album. At CCM Magazine, Grace S. Aspinwall called it "an incredible work of art."[1] James Christopher Monger of Allmusic felt that the release was "both radio- and worship-ready, and represents another strong showing for Story."[5] At Christianity Today, Kristin Garrett felt that "Glimpses of Story's vulnerability on tracks like this one ["Blessings"] will keep Blessings from becoming 'just another worship album.'"[3] Phil Thomson of Cross Rhythms affirmed that this was "one hauntingly beautiful piece of work. And here's the truth – it does what it says on the cover."[2]
At New Release Tuesday, Kevin Davis proclaimed it as a "stellar album" that "completely solidifies Laura as the premier singer-songwriter in the Inspirational genre."[9] Lisa Webber of Christian Broadcasting Network evoked that "Regardless of the style, these songs of praise and surrender to God will encourage you to fall in love with Him all over again."[7] At Alpha Omega News, Ken Wiegman noted that the release was an "amazing follow up to a stellar debut that simply rocketed Laura into center stage of CCM", and that the album was "every bit a heartfelt worship project that again be a blessing to many."[6]
However, The Christian Manifesto's Calvin E. Moore stated that "Unfortunately, the entire project ended up feeling kind of clichéd to me."[8] At Jesus Freak Hideout, Jen Rose highlighted that the album was a "worship record all the way, and for the most part, it doesn't deliver a new, unique style", and wrote that "Initial listens, especially to the first half of the album, might sound like a typical worship record and feel unremarkable, but time spent with Blessings lets her earnest, tender music unfold into something sweetly beautiful."[4]
Commercial performanceedit
Blessings was the No. 30 most sold album in the entirety of the United States via the Billboard 200, and it was the No. 1 on both the Top Christian Albums and the Folk Albums charts.
^ abcRose, Jen (April 10, 2011). "Laura Story, "Blessings" Review". Jesus Freak Hideout. Retrieved October 7, 2013.
^ abMonger, James Christopher (April 12, 2011). "Blessings – Laura Story". Allmusic. Retrieved October 7, 2013.
^ abWiegman, Ken (May 13, 2011). "Laura Story – Blessings". Alpha Omega News. Archived from the original on October 8, 2013. Retrieved October 7, 2013.
^ abWebber, Lisa (April 12, 2013). "Blessings by Laura Story". Christian Broadcasting Network. Retrieved October 7, 2013.
^ abMoore, Calvin (June 13, 2011). "Laura Story | Blessings". The Christian Manifesto. Archived from the original on October 8, 2013. Retrieved October 7, 2013.
^ abDavis, Kevin (April 7, 2011). "Laura Story [Blessings]". New Release Tuesday. Retrieved October 7, 2013.
^"Laura Story Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved November 15, 2015.
^"Laura Story Chart History (Christian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 15, 2015.
^"Laura Story Chart History (Top Americana/Folk Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 15, 2015.
^"Laura Story Chart History (Top Catalog Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 15, 2015.
^"Hot Christian Albums – Decade-End 2010s". Billboard. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
blessings, laura, story, album, blessings, second, studio, album, contemporary, christian, musician, laura, story, album, released, records, april, 2011, produced, nathan, nockels, album, seen, commercial, charting, successes, well, receiving, positive, critic. Blessings was the second studio album by contemporary Christian musician Laura Story The album was released by INO Records on April 12 2011 and produced by Nathan Nockels The album has seen commercial charting successes as well as receiving positive critical attention from music critics BlessingsStudio album by Laura StoryReleasedApril 12 2011 2011 04 12 GenreContemporary Christian musicLength40 28LabelINOProducerNathan NockelsLaura Story chronologyGreat God Who Saves 2008 Blessings 2011 God of Every Story 2013 Singles from Blessings Blessings Released February 21 2011 What a Savior Released 2011 citation needed Contents 1 Music and lyrics 2 Critical reception 3 Commercial performance 4 Track listing 5 Charts 5 1 Weekly charts 5 2 Decade end charts 6 Certifications 7 ReferencesMusic and lyrics editAt CCM Magazine Grace S Aspinwall wrote that Her voice is pure and flawless and each song is perfectly arranged and noted that Her songwriting has also strengthened and she shows depth and maturity most exemplified on the title track which Moments of pop work their way into this mostly worship project 1 Phil Thomson said that Laura Story wrote or co wrote the tracks with the kind of intense vested interest which leaves you in no doubt about the provenance also making you wonder how she knows you so well 2 At Christianity Today Kristin Garrett stated that the tracks with less orchestration and more melodic piano lines more aptly illustrate Story s vocal and songwriting abilities 3 Jen Rose of Jesus Freak Hideout wrote that the album was a collection of praise anthems and stories of God s faithfulness and a worship album with a songwriter s soul and that Story s work focuses on lyrics from the heart songs that reflect on hope injustice redemption and love 4 Critical reception editProfessional ratingsReview scoresSourceRatingAllMusic nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 5 Alpha Omega NewsA 6 CCM Magazine nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 1 Christian Broadcasting Network nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 7 The Christian Manifesto nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 8 Christianity Today nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 3 Cross Rhythms nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 2 Jesus Freak Hideout nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 4 New Release Tuesday nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 9 Blessings garnered generally positive reception by music critics to critique the album At CCM Magazine Grace S Aspinwall called it an incredible work of art 1 James Christopher Monger of Allmusic felt that the release was both radio and worship ready and represents another strong showing for Story 5 At Christianity Today Kristin Garrett felt that Glimpses of Story s vulnerability on tracks like this one Blessings will keep Blessings from becoming just another worship album 3 Phil Thomson of Cross Rhythms affirmed that this was one hauntingly beautiful piece of work And here s the truth it does what it says on the cover 2 At New Release Tuesday Kevin Davis proclaimed it as a stellar album that completely solidifies Laura as the premier singer songwriter in the Inspirational genre 9 Lisa Webber of Christian Broadcasting Network evoked that Regardless of the style these songs of praise and surrender to God will encourage you to fall in love with Him all over again 7 At Alpha Omega News Ken Wiegman noted that the release was an amazing follow up to a stellar debut that simply rocketed Laura into center stage of CCM and that the album was every bit a heartfelt worship project that again be a blessing to many 6 However The Christian Manifesto s Calvin E Moore stated that Unfortunately the entire project ended up feeling kind of cliched to me 8 At Jesus Freak Hideout Jen Rose highlighted that the album was a worship record all the way and for the most part it doesn t deliver a new unique style and wrote that Initial listens especially to the first half of the album might sound like a typical worship record and feel unremarkable but time spent with Blessings lets her earnest tender music unfold into something sweetly beautiful 4 Commercial performance editBlessings was the No 30 most sold album in the entirety of the United States via the Billboard 200 and it was the No 1 on both the Top Christian Albums and the Folk Albums charts Track listing editNo TitleWriter s Length1 This Is the Day Alison Fagerstedt Laura Story3 452 Friend of Sinners Brenton Brown Story3 163 You Are Love Carl Cartee Jonathan Lee Story4 394 What a Savior Jeremiah Jones3 565 Blessings Story4 586 Your Name Will Be Praised Mac Powell Story3 427 One Life to Lose Story3 418 Prodigal Song Story4 199 Remember Story3 2710 Faithful God Story4 45Total length 40 28Charts editWeekly charts edit Chart 2011 Peak position US Billboard 200 10 30 US Christian Albums Billboard 11 1 US Folk Albums Billboard 12 1 Chart 2013 Peak position US Top Catalog Albums Billboard 13 32 Decade end charts edit Chart 2010s Position US Christian Albums Billboard 14 40Certifications editRegion Certification Certified units sales United States RIAA 15 Gold 500 000 Sales streaming figures based on certification alone References edit a b c Aspinwall Grace S May 1 2011 Laura Story Blessings INO Records CCM Magazine Archived from the original on August 7 2014 Retrieved October 7 2013 a b c Thomson Phil June 20 2011 Review Blessings Laura Story Cross Rhythms Retrieved October 7 2013 a b c Garrett Kristin April 12 2011 Laura Story Blessings Christianity Today Retrieved October 7 2013 a b c Rose Jen April 10 2011 Laura Story Blessings Review Jesus Freak Hideout Retrieved October 7 2013 a b Monger James Christopher April 12 2011 Blessings Laura Story Allmusic Retrieved October 7 2013 a b Wiegman Ken May 13 2011 Laura Story Blessings Alpha Omega News Archived from the original on October 8 2013 Retrieved October 7 2013 a b Webber Lisa April 12 2013 Blessings by Laura Story Christian Broadcasting Network Retrieved October 7 2013 a b Moore Calvin June 13 2011 Laura Story Blessings The Christian Manifesto Archived from the original on October 8 2013 Retrieved October 7 2013 a b Davis Kevin April 7 2011 Laura Story Blessings New Release Tuesday Retrieved October 7 2013 Laura Story Chart History Billboard 200 Billboard Retrieved November 15 2015 Laura Story Chart History Christian Albums Billboard Retrieved November 15 2015 Laura Story Chart History Top Americana Folk Albums Billboard Retrieved November 15 2015 Laura Story Chart History Top Catalog Albums Billboard Retrieved November 15 2015 Hot Christian Albums Decade End 2010s Billboard Retrieved November 19 2020 American album certifications Laura Story Blessings Recording Industry Association of America Retrieved August 14 2020 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Blessings Laura Story album amp oldid 1167737918, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
